Synergy: Garden

A garden is s small plot of land used to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, or other plants. This planned space is set aside specifically for the cultivation and enjoyment of plants.

Read the recently published poetry book for children, then learn more at the websites:

BEHOLD OUR MAGICAL GARDEN: POEMS FRESH FROM A SCHOOL GARDEN written by Allan Wolf and illustrated by Daniel Duncan is a beautifully illustrated picture book sharing over two dozen poems exploring the joys of gardening. From composting to gardening tools, young gardeners will be inspired by the wide range of nature-oriented poems. The book concludes with useful notes about each poem.

SCHOOL GARDEN CENTER is a website from Utah Agriculture in the Classroom that offers ideas and resources for school gardens.

Go to https://utah.agclassroom.org/garden/

KIDS GARDENING is a website exploring ways that children can play, learn, and grow through gardens. The site provides lesson plans, activities, grant resources for educators.

Go to https://kidsgardening.org/

ARC courtesy of Candlewick Press.

Synergy: Do-It-Yourself

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) involves creating, modifying, or repairing things without the help of professionals. Coined in the early 20th century in the area of home improvement, today’s DIY projects include a wide range of topics that reflect growing interest in self-sufficiency. Makerspaces are an extension of this movement that often includes technology-based projects.

Read the recently published works of graphic nonfiction for youth, then learn more at the website.

The MAKER COMICS series combines the graphic novel genre with the step-by-step instruction of a DIY book. Books include FIX A CAR, BAKE LIKE A PRO, CREATE A COSTUME, DRAW A COMIC, and GROW A GARDEN.

SURVIVE IN THE OUTDOORS by Mike Lawrence is the latest release in the MAKER COMICS series. After a brief a safety reminder, readers follow siblings who are reluctant to leave their electronic devices for an outdoor adventure. From fishing and outdoor cooking to first aid and shelter, their grandfather helps them learn the basics of survival. The book concludes with additional tips.

Other upcoming titles in the series include CONDUCT A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT and LIVE SUSTAINABLY.

INSTRUCTABLES is a website containing endless DIY projects. Major sections of the website include circuits, workshop, crafts, cooking, living, outside, and teachers. The OUTSIDE area explores a wide range of outdoor project and contest ideas. The OUTDOOR SURVIVAL projects focus on activities such as filtering water, using a compass, and building shelter.

To visit Instructables, go to https://www.instructables.com/.

ARC courtesy of First Second, an imprint of Macmillan.

Website: Nature Works Everywhere

NATURE WORKS EVERYWHERE from The Nature Conservancy provides educational resources associated with nature.

The resources section of the website contains lesson plans, videos, virtual field trips, webinars, teacher resources, tip sheets, and other types of resources. Users can search by grade, resource type, standards, themes, or tags.

Use the Nature Works Gardens map to explore over a thousand gardens around the world. The planning tools allows users to design, measure, and track garden activities.

Librarians will find that this website provides useful classroom as well as community connections to nature. Be sure to check out their grant program.

To visit the website, go to https://www.natureworkseverywhere.org/.